A day of toil and an evening of happy domesticity with wifelet. After dinner we sat with our feet up [our feet up what, you may ask]. Ally reading an old, soiled Agatha Christie which she picked up for 10p, and I began 'The Three Musketeers' by Dumas [Oh yes, I finished Fanny Hill, and I must say I have since been quite a different person in bed]. The TV went off after 'Nationwide'. The ghastly Sue Lawley is unbearable. Bed reasonably early, all pink, scrubbed and relaxed.
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An exciting start to the day because Ally was having her hair cut and even the most minor deviation from the norm gave a spurt to our dawn awakening. We climbed into the bath together. __________.
Onward at 8 to the YP. The girls are obviously annoyed with me for not getting carried away at the SOGAT meeting. However, I do not argue when I know I cannot win. Of course I earn a king's ransom. My lifestyle is like Cary Grant's.
At lunchtime I went to buy Ally a book at Greenhead's. 'Highland Fling' by Nancy Mitford. It's from Santa Claus of course.
Home at 6 to find the house in darkness. Ally came back 10 minutes later with her new hair and a look of disappointment. She thinks her hair is too short, but I like it. Perms do look a bit severe to beging with, don't they? We had an omelette and ate like starving wolves. ____________.
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Wet and dark morning. Ally didn't want to climb out of bed and I had to run her bath, and boil her eggs before she stirred. Just her nose was peeping from under the Oasis quilt.
Looked at the book 'Royal Lists' by Brown and Cunliffe, a gift from Bob Cockroft. A bearded boy in 'Hush Puppy' shoes came at 2 to assess the roof for a council grant and asks if we need anything else doing too. He looked at the stone walls outside and suggested that they might need re-pointing, and after making a detailed plan of the house he went away with a broad smile on his face. It will be a few weeks before we hear anything. Phoned Ally and gave her the basic details before they have time to fade from my memory. Derek [Jenkins] has not had a colostomy, as we thought. Phoned Lynn. They have a buyer for the house. Said hello to Frances. John has been working on Teesside. Middlesbrough, I think. The house is abysmal without Ally, and it isn't warm despite the central heating until she comes home.
Burgundy pâté followed by a liver goulash. Ally tired early. Horribly pale. We went up to bed and she fell soundly asleep, like a doormouse.
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Rain. We got up and ate and said goodbye in darkness, and returned eight hours later in the same darkness. Surely we were intended for better things than this? We should find a job that keeps us together all day. Ally, whilst ironing tonight, suggested we buy an antique shop. I imagine you would have to be very pushy. I would enjoy it all the same. Pot dog salesman.
Margo is back from Poros with Mr White, looking brown. Kathleen is also back. Told her of our Lanzarote plans and she sent a memo down to the cashiers.
Helped Ally bake bread. One needs good wrist action. Sadly, we got flour all over the new carpet and I trampled dough everywhere. Ally had a fit.
Ally tired tonight and looks jaded. She needs a holiday. Derek Jenkins collapsed last night and is in hospital with some, as yet, unknown complaint. The only thing that Ally could get out of Mr Taylor is that the man is haemorrhaging, but from where? Ally also heard the word colostomy mentioned, but neither of us can remember what that actually is. Ally is sweet. For years she's blasted Derek with her worst ammunition, but now he's ill she doesn't have a bad word for him.
Roll on November 18. TV good. Russell Harty was talking to Molly Keane the writer. A funny lady.
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Wrote to John and Sheila and sent off a cheque for £200 to Quest Travel. Signed, sealed and delivered.
YP: Sarah is back. The SOGAT rep wants to see us on Wednesday.
Lynn and Dave are selling their house at Burley-in-Wharfedale and moving to Thorpe Lane, Guiseley [selling for £22,500 and buying for £36,000]. Why didn't they buy Pine Tops for God's sake?
We went to bed early after a steaming shepherd's pie. Fanny Hill and snores. This John Cleland chappie must have been a lad.
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19th Sunday after Trinity New Moon
Slightly hungover. Up at 9. Bath. Poached eggs. Frank and Uncle Jim came from Colne for Andrew at 10:15, and sat with a coffee. Ally, still in her dressing gown, packed up some apples for Frank to pass on to Auntie Annie. Cooking apples. Uncle Jim asked about Lanzarote and my rich relations. They said nothing about Auntie Hilda, and we didn't like to ask. They left at 10:30. Mum and Dad came at 11. Mum with a nice bunch of vermillion flowers for Ally. They have photographs of baby Hannah, very much like Catherine. JPH is such a big boy now. ________. They talked about the Grunwells.
By 12:15 we were at the Hollywood. Lily related to Dad the hilarious stories of the attempted burglaries at the pub. Joined by Steve, Billy, and Garry [who started work on Monday cutting up foam, ten months after being made redundant]. Joined by Old Anne from the Robin Hood and young Anne with the brown legs and bungalow set in its own rolling acres. The plan is to marry her off to Steve. At 2 we went into the snug and ate chicken legs and sandwiches and drank until after 5. Billy left early to look after his elderly mother. We sat with Dave G and Lily until after 7. I bought grandad a whisky. Lily says that since his son's death he wants to die too. We left at 8. Home to Rue Club for coffee. Ally to bed.
I watched Lord Olivier talking to Melvin Bragg.
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We sat in a pub 'The Smithy' and had one drink. A Woody Allen film was playing on the video in the bar - hilarious. Bought meat and veg, &c. Frank arrived with Andrew at 4 o'clock and after having a cup of tea went off to Colne. We drank home brewed ale and watched TV. Then had fried steak and chips and played records, loudly, until after 8. Phoned Jill and Tim and they came over at 9 and we went to the Fire Brigade. We were too tanked up to enjoy the night properly, and Andrew couldn't face his Tetley's. Home for coffee. The Elmers left at 11:30 and I went and bought fish and chips. They were cold. Watched Kid Creole and the Coconuts. Bed late.
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Wet. Went out at lunch time and bought a stout pack and a demijohn.
Home to Sweet Kitten. We are cheerful tonight after the ridiculous squabbling last night. Our fall outs are rare. Sat with a coffee after dinner the phone rang and it was Frank saying that Bessie has been in Colne since yesterday with her sister, Hilda, who is dying of cancer. This put a wet blanket on the evening. Frank will bring Andrew here tomorrow and then go on to Colne and see what can be done. I did warn Ally that the end might be near. Poor Auntie Hilda must only be 50.
Our Oasis quilt cover came in the post. Susie was seen by Dr Glass today and he told her she can go home on Monday if there is no change. She hasn't had a scan but is probably 8 to 10 weeks pregnant.
John has gone to Scotland for the weekend. No doubt he'll be staying with Janette. _______.
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Moorhouse Inn, Leeds, &c Still dull outside. Who cares? Our alarm clock is on the blink and refuses to sound off. Samuel laid patiently...
